no burns please. help

[Brandon.O]

ok, i have a screen top for my bp's tank and of course the light goes on top of it. he can reach the light and sometimes he climbs up there.I moved him climbing tree to the cooler side of the tank away from the light but he still goes over there, i feel the metal lid and it feels pretty hot. anything i can do to keep him away from it ??

[Wizill]

this is why i feel light-heating is inappropriate for ball pythons. they are always looking for a way out, which means they are always going to go up... belly heat suits them fine and is much easier to maintain if you ask me.

[Brandon.O]

i know, but with just the undertank heater it gets too cold in his tank. i dont know what to do.

[Wizill]

have you considered a new approach on the enclosure itself?

[Brandon.O]

im thinkin about it. my fish tank is a 30 gallon and its pretty tall and he couldent reach it but the only problem is that i have a butt load of fish in there so either i put the fish in another tank(another empty tenn gallon where they would be really crowded) or sell them or buy a whole new tank.

[Wizill]

im currently using 50 quarter rubbermaids for my smaller ball pythons and they are working out great. cost me 4.99 each.

[Brandon.O]

i guess i could get one of those.I really dont like the way rubbermaids look but then again i dont like the way a burnt snake looks either. (he isnt burnt im just sayin)

[Wizill]

yeah i know man. it took me a little getting used too, but now that i've gotten into plastic enclosures... there's nothing better imo. i see how happy my snakes are in them, and how easily their needs are fit. and that makes me happy.

[jotay]

Suspend the light over the screen instead of resting on top.
I had the same problem and just suspended the light about 3"-4" above the screen. It still provided heat but the screen never got hot enough to burn him.
Then again you can always go the route Wizill suggested and not have to worry about the light at all.

[Smulkin]

True dat. Those of ours that are lit have suspended lighting rather than light resting on the top. Tupperware makes it a moot point since most of them have opaque lids light couldn't get through anyway. It's hard to not WANT so clearly SEE into your snake's little microhabitat - but just remember - function before fashion.